West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady has spoken highly of West Bromwich Albion midfielder Gareth Barry in The Sun.

Brady has praised the 37-year-old defensive midfielder for the way he has changed his game since he was a teenager and has become a steady player.

“At 17, Barry was left side of a Villa back three with Paul McGrath and Gareth Southgate,” Brady wrote in The Sun.

“Barry is slow by today’s standards but he combines a steady plod with a chess master’s ability to move to the right place at the right time, a highly combative nature and a laser-like passing 188bet ability with his left foot.”

Barry is in his late 30s, but the Englishman remains a very good player of Premier League quality.

The former Aston Villa and Manchester City midfielder does not have pace, what the 37-year-old does have is ability to see things in the middle of the park and to influence matters on the pitch.

With his contract at the Baggies running out at the end of the season - according to Transfermarkt.co.uk - and West Brom set to get relegated to the Championship at the end of the season, it should not come as a surprise if a mid-table club in the Premier League sign him on a free transfer.

Barry has scored one goal and provided one assist in 22 Premier League starts for West Brom so far this season. 188bet